A UK-wide charity has thanked Glentoran captain Marcus Kane for helping raise awareness around baby loss in Northern Ireland.
Aching Arms, which was founded in 2010, provides ‘comfort bears’ to local hospitals and hospices and a wider support service for bereaved parents.
Marcus and his wife Aimee, who lost baby son Harrie a week before Christmas in 2019, have been keen supporters of the project.
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And the Kane family was present when a £1,500 cheque, raised by a local church youth club attended by their daughter Mollie, was presented to Aching Arms earlier this month.
Laura Kelly, the charity’s hospital coordinator in Northern Ireland, believes Kane’s Irish League background has helped highlight the subject of baby loss and support agencies available to local families.
Laura, who lost her one-week-old son Cormac in 2017, said: “The fact Marcus is using his profile as an Irish League footballer to help raise awareness around such an important subject is invaluable.
“The fact he and his wife Aimee are also so open to sharing their own story helps break the taboo around baby loss and it makes such a massive difference.
“They are doing wonders, not only in memory of their little boy Harrie, but also helping such a small charity like Aching Arms.
"We are so appreciative of that and the money raised will make a massive difference and help a lot of families.”
Kane, who has made almost 350 appearances for Glentoran, thanked the Welcome Church’s Friday night youth club in Belfast for raising £1,500 for Aching Arms.
The 30-year-old said: “Mollie goes to the youth club on a Friday night and the pastor there Jonathan Clarke was keen to do something in Harrie’s memory.
“We mentioned Aching Arms and £1,500 was subsequently raised at a winter fair which will go a long way for the charity. It was a lovely thought, a fantastic gesture and we are so thankful.”
The £1,500 will be spent on 100 teddy bears which will be delivered to 100 families, primarily across Northern Ireland, starting with the Royal Maternity this week.
Each bear is a gift from a family already bereaved through baby loss, miscarriage, still birth or neonatal death. It also provides details of support agencies.
“It lets other families know that they’re not alone,” said Marcus. “When we were in hospital during our time with Harrie, we received a comfort bear with another baby’s name on it.
“Oscar was another wee boy who passed away and it meant a lot to receive that teddy bear with Oscar’s name on it. It’s very precious, it was hugged a lot and you do find comfort through it.
“As a result, we decided to donate a few comfort bears to Aching Arms along the way and there are already a number of bears out there with Harrie’s name on them.
“I know baby loss is often viewed as a taboo subject, but I think it’s important that we raise awareness and also highlight the charities and help that’s out there.”
As well as daughter Mollie, who is seven, Marcus and Aimee gave birth to youngest son Bowie, who is now 18 months old, in 2020.
“When you lose a child, the baby after is called a Rainbow Child and that’s how Bowie got his name,” said Marcus. “We thought Bowie would be a fitting name.”
To donate a bear in memory of a baby, please click the following link..
https://achingarms.enthuse.com/cf/donate-a-bear-in-memory
To request a comfort bear if you have lost a baby at any stage of pregnancy, before or after birth, simply click the following link..
There is no cost receiving a bear within the UK.
https://www.achingarms.co.uk/request-a-bear.aspx
For further information on Aching Arms..
https://www.achingarms.co.uk/about-aching-arms/what-we-do.aspx
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